robert morse

Smoke Gets in Your Ears: A Mad Men Podcast episode 31 is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

At long last, AJ, Kenn, and Joe have reached the seventh (and current!) season of Mad Men. If the sixth season was about echoes of the firm’s and the series’ past reverberating in new circumstances, season 7 begins with the characters in the midst of great change. This week, the gang sets their sights on the first two episodes of the season: “Time Zones,” in which Lou is immune to Peggy’s charms; and “A Day’s Work,” wherein Bert is all for the national advancement of colored people. Plus, don’t miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

Smoke Gets in Your Ears: A Mad Men Podcast episode 25 is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

With “The Phantom,” Mad Men season 5 draws to a close in surprisingly bleak fashion for what at first seemed like an optimistic, enlightened year for the gang at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. AJ, Kenn, and Joe discuss the bitterly ironic endings for each character, what doesn’t exactly work about the finale, whether or not subtlety is overrated, and what the future may hold for our favorite ad men and women. Plus, don’t miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

Smoke Gets in Your Ears: A Mad Men Podcast episode 17 is available for listening or download right here, and on iTunes here.

Let’s get liberated. AJ, Kenn, and Joe continue their discussion of Mad Men season 4 with a look at “The Rejected,” featuring a Peach Pussy Power Play; “The Chrysanthemum and the Sword,” wherein Roger makes a bunch of racist jokes (what else is new?); and “Waldorf Stories,” in which that curse from Buffy that made Jonathan all cool and famous is apparently still strong enough that he got to be on Mad Men. Plus, don’t miss another exciting installment of Hamm Watch!

On this, the eve of 2013, Paul and I begin to look back at some of our favorite things of 2012. First up, our ten favorite TV series.

Also, let’s give a slow clap to Paul, who struggled through severe illness just to get these words to you, dear reader. A speedy recovery to you, sir!

– AJ

PAUL: 10. PARKS AND RECREATION (NBC)

Season 5 gets out of the office a little bit, with Ben and April in Washington D.C. (with an evil robot congressman). Ron gets a new love interest (the always lovely Lucy Lawless). Tom starts a new business. And Andy finds a new career.

AJ: 10. GAME OF THRONES (HBO)

What Game of Thrones did in its first season was nothing short of exceptional, a 10-episode narrative that goes down as one of the finest accomplishments the medium has seen thus far. And while the second season struggled at times to recapture that majesty, it certainly wasn’t for lack of trying. The scope and breadth of George R.R. Martin’s world remains impressive; the cast, especially Peter Dinklage as the kind of noble imp Tyrion Lannister, continues to knock out high fantasy material that would crush lesser actors; and thrilling hours like “Blackwater” remind us that this is the closest thing we have to a Lord of the Rings on TV. And it’s a whole lot nastier and sexier, too.